Prepare your back yard for outdoor living in 2018

Want to get in on the trend of ‘outdoor living’ that’s taking the UK by storm this summer? Reportedly, 40% of UK residents have changed the way they use their gardens, with 35% of those asked stating that they’ve transformed it into a place for relaxing and 11% even making theirs into an extra living space!

Now is the time for you to spruce up your garden, too. Check out this guide to outdoor living and find out how you make your back yard a fantastic place to spend time in 2018…

The best plants for 2018

Inject some colour and character into your garden by picking out your favourite flowering plants and shrubs. Unless you have plenty of spare time, you may want to go for flowers that are easy to maintain — but which are best?

A shrub is ideal if you don’t have much spare time. You can use shrubbery to line the pathways of your garden and the lawn edge, filling in a space that might’ve been left bare. When planting shrubs, remember to plant them at least half the width of the shrub apart from other shrubs and boundaries as they can grow outwards.

How about getting on board with the grow-your-own trend that is sweeping the nation, too? When cooking for your guests, you can head to the bottom of the garden to gather some fresh herbs and vegetables to go with their meal!

Top garden furniture tips for 2018

Once you’ve sorted which flowers and plants are going to feature in your spruced-up garden, it’s time to look at how you can make it more practical for outdoor living. Sales of garden furniture, barbecues and accessories are expected to grow by 3-4% annually up to 2021 — so get searching for top deals on a range of tables, chairs and more.

Don’t opt for the standard plastic furniture and paper plates — be more creative this year! Why not create a sunken fire pit in your garden, surrounded by some cosy cushioned seats and colourful plastic dinnerware for snacks and drinks? With a comforting source of heat in your back garden, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself outdoors more than you would have thought.

On the condition that the weather is nice enough to enjoy them, the UK is a nation of barbecue lovers! In fact, between 2006 and 2016, the average number of barbecues held per family each summer rose from 2.5 to 10 — demonstrating our growing love for outdoor dining. Of course, you can go as premium or as basic as you like with your barbecuing, depending on the size and features that you’re after. More people are making purchases of verandas now too, allowing them to spend time outdoors despite what the weather is like!

If you have a petite back garden, don’t think you can’t organise and host a great garden party or family get-together! You can be space efficient and keep clutter out of the way by building a shed. The Posh Shed Company saw a massive 300% increase in sales of its Chelsea shed in 2017. This type of shed is all about space-saving and has features such as built-in shelving on the outside so that internal space isn’t compromised — great for keeping your garden clear and looking nice.

Make the most of the UK’s drive towards al fresco living by giving your garden a make-over and spending more time outdoors!